ABS Sensor

[djfloyd]

Hey all,

I have a '95 Mustang GT. Eight years ago I put my car in the ditch and the ABS sensor has been on ever since... until last week! I got my car washed at one of those automatic car washes and the sensor light went off. I pulled into a gravel parking lot and jammed on the brakes and my ABS suddenly worked again! I'm assuming this must mean that there is some sort of short circuit in one of the ABS sensors... since the ABS stopped working after my car had several hours to dry. I have no idea where the ABS sensors are, though. I tried looking in my repair manual, but it doesn't show me where they are at the wheels. Has anyone run into a similar situation? Any hints on exactly where I can find the faulty sensor??

Thanks!
Rob

 

[djfloyd]

I should probably clarify and say that the ABS warning light has been on ever since I put the car in the ditch... it was the ABS warning light that went off after I had the car washed... and came back on after the car dried.

Thanks,
Rob

 

[djfloyd]

Is the sensor located on the rear differential, as with the '91 Explorer in this video clip?
How to Unhook an Anti-Lock Brake Wiring Connector: How to Replace Anti-Lock Brake Sensors | eHow.com

 

[djfloyd]

I think I may have found what I need:

http://www.allfordmustangs.com/forums/attachments/2005-2010-mustang-gt-tech/43280d1208830101-r-r-rear-axle-abs-sensors-mustang-gt-wheel-speed-sensor-rear.doc

 

[nancygrl]

you probably had so much crud from ditching the car that it couldn't get a signal from the abs gear until you washed the mud etc away.

 

[KBExperience]

My '04 doesn't even have ABS

 

[Kilgore Trout]

The sensors just need a good cleaning OP.

 

[djfloyd]

Yeah, I'm guessing it's a connection problem... but they stopped working after the water dried. Presumably the connector that is having problems got shorted together by the water when it was wet. I'll have to pull it in the garage tonight and pull the wheels off... need to figure out which one is the problem! =)

When did for make ABS standard?? I figured it was standard by '04...??

 

[Mustang5L5]

When did for make ABS standard?? I figured it was standard by '04...??

Ford did things weird. In 2004, to make the mustang cheaper abs was a 800 option.....but it was standard on 2003 gt premium cars for the same sticker price as an 04 without it.

In 2004, I was shopping for a new gt, and abs cars were not that common. I ended up buying an 03 just to have the abs.



As to the ops prob. I bet when he put the car in the ditch, he got mud and crud on one of the wheel sensors faulting it out. When he went through the car wash....the high pressure wash must have finally cleared it out.

 

[SFStangGT]

My 2002 GT came standard with ABS..... But my ABS has not been working for about a year now also... So I guess FORD makes crappy ABS sensors and doesn't matter if the cars have it or now...

The ABS sensors are located just behind the rotors on all four wheels. There is a gear with several small teeth and a small sensor above it. If (when) the sensor gets dirty the ABS light comes on do to not being able to receive a signal.

ABS modules also go bad every now and then.

 

[hotcobra03]

abs

i have stuff for 97 and newer..

maybe look thru this link for 95

Mustang FAQ - Wiring & Engine Info

 

[djfloyd]

Hotcobra03,

Thanks for the link! I found a page on that site that details how to troubleshoot '95 ABS problems:

Mustang 1994-1996 ABS Diag Info

I haven't tried it yet, but it looks promising! There is a procedure on there for getting the error codes out without a reader, which will be a plus. Thank you very much for this page!

Thanks everyone else for the replies! Very odd regarding ABS becoming an option in 2004... sometimes car companies do funny things...

 

[hotcobra03]

abs

keep us updated...

there is alot on that link glad you found it..i was going to give just that link but as you can see its very useful...

 

[Rejekt]

My light is popping on and off. I'm gonna clean mine too. It's aggravating.

 

[ChillPhatCat]

One of my sensors got busted in the gear upgrade... I've locked the brakes up 3 times since then... Not something that I want to spend money to fix but I probably should.

 

[patman0911]

Hotcobra03,

Thanks for the link! I found a page on that site that details how to troubleshoot '95 ABS problems:

Mustang 1994-1996 ABS Diag Info

I haven't tried it yet, but it looks promising! There is a procedure on there for getting the error codes out without a reader, which will be a plus. Thank you very much for this page!

Thanks everyone else for the replies! Very odd regarding ABS becoming an option in 2004... sometimes car companies do funny things...

Yeah, good info in that link. I used that procedure to successfully diagnose my ABS system a few years ago - it's a shame the later ABS systems don't have that capability. I think the Haynes manual has a diagnostic tree for the ABS system once you know the codes.

As to ABS becoming an option, car companies do that all the time.

"Look, our car comes with [FEATURE X] standard!"

a few years later...

"Look, our car is the same price or cheaper* than it was last year!"

*[FEATURE X] optional